Share Your Adventure

“Who am I? Or the better question – “Who have I become after my travels? A nomad. A wanderer. A daydreamer. I’m Kelly, an adventurer who has been galloping across the world for 24 years now.

I was born and raised in small-town Middletown, Connecticut with my family who I must admit are the ones that fueled the fire beneath my itinerant feet. Ever since I’ve been on my way to new and exciting places.

What’s my method of travel? No planning. No language. No reservations.I’m the girl that books a one-way ticket on the next flight out. I’ve slept on the streets, in a five-star hotel, and even on a sea organ. My favorite way to travel is to immerse myself in the culture and spend time with locals. I love traveling off the grid devoid technology and seeing what this beautiful world has to offer.

Rapid Fire Questions

How are you using your position to pursue your passions?

I landed my dream job of working for Southwest Airlines for a little over two years ago. When I’m not doing marketing automation for our cargo department, you can catch me jet-setting off to my next destination.

What are you most excited for in your ID90 Travel Brand Ambassador experience?

To encourage others to use their travel benefits and take their dream vacation! Oftentimes I find we make excuses for why we haven’t taken that trip we’ve been dreaming of for years, whether it be “I only have a weekend” or “I’m saving up,” but some of my favorite trips have been the ones that were crammed into one weekend and figuring it out as I go.

What’s on your travel list?

Growing up, you always hear the phrase “take the path less traveled” and I guess I took it quite literally. I’m a big fan of traveling to third world countries that none of my peers have been to. That way, I can meet new people and develop my own perception of it, then come back and share stories and spark an idea in someone’s mind about a place they may never have considered. One day I hope to make it to every country!

You said that you enjoy traveling to third world countries. How do you prepare differently than if you were to travel to a more popular destination?

I go to my local bank and get the countries’ currency beforehand. Sometimes it’s hard to acquire cash upon arrival, or the currency exchange is closed by the time I land and I don’t want to waste valuable time waiting until the next morning. It’s usually cheaper, too!

What is one thing you never travel without?

You can’t get very far without your ID, so I guess that, and my face wash. It’s always refreshing to have a little bit of home comfort with you while globetrotting. See what I did there?!

What’s the most challenging trip you’ve done?

Hiking Volcan de Fuego with ID90 Travel Ambassador @BrittBrunson. Ask us for the details, I promise you won’t regret it. Maybe my travel advice should be to believe it when the hike is rated “strenuous, be prepared” (we were not).

What is a piece of travel advice that you have received but never follow?

While this piece of advice holds a lot of merit, I usually always take public transportation even when people say not to because it isn’t safe. I think the key to taking public transportation is to be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your personal belongings at all times. This method of transportation is a great way to really understand the way the locals live and see a lot of places you might not see otherwise.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow non-revver?

Get people’s contact information and save it! You never know when you might get stuck non-revving or simply need a place to crash during a spontaneous trip.

What is one thing you do in every country you travel to?

I love tasting the local fruit in each country, in fact, I always research the fruit even before I find a place to stay!

What’s your life or travel philosophy?

The best trips are those not planned.

What’s one fun travel fact?

The first time I ever used an ATM was in Morocco.

What book would you recommend to aspiring travelers?

Mine. Just kidding- I don’t have one, yet! Cassie DePecol is my idol, for more than just having been the youngest female to visit every country in the world. She’s also been on my favorite tv show, Naked and Afraid, not once but twice! If you haven’t already, watch it for some serious survival tips. And, she’s also from Connecticut. J Cassie is the author of one of my new favorite books, Expedition 196. It’s the perfect book to read while traveling at 35k feet and gives you a new perspective on traveling.

What’s your go-to traveling hack/tip?

Always carry a pen with you when you fly or else you will have to ask your neighbor when it comes time to fill out your customs form!”